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"You won't get a damn cent. Why don't you go find someone else to take advantage of now? Your job here is done," I finish with a syrupy-sweet voice, and she rips her wrist out of my hand.
"Actually, I've changed my mind," I finish. "I think I will slap you."
And the sound of my hand hitting her cheek resonates in the room. "You can go now," I let her know as she clutches her reddening cheek in shock.
She rushes out of the room, not looking back once. And then it's just Adrian and me, my heart pounding faster than ever as he strides towards me.
"Cassidy," he says desperately, and my eyes are focused on his crotch. His zipper is still undone, and for some reason, that bothers me more than the fact that I just found him cheating.
"I never meant for it to happen," he begins, the words rushing out of his mouth, meaning shit to me. "It was nothing, she didn't mean anything. She was just a fuck…"
"Just a hole to put your dick in when I wouldn't let you?" I ask matter-of-factly, and he looks away, looking broken. But I didn't do this to him – it's a pain he inflicted on himself.
I dig in my purse, pulling out my engagement ring and handing it over to him with a cold expression. Adrian groans out loud, running his hands through his surfer blond hair, leaving it in disarray. He refuses to take it and it remains in my hand, as heavy as the burden I feel on my heart right now.
"No, Cassidy, I won't take it back," he says desperately. "Don't you understand? You're all there is for me. I fucked up, I know. I fucked up."
His voice is full of remorse, his words ringing true in my mind. I know he's telling the truth this time around, but it doesn't mean anything to me. My mind was made up when I left the house an hour ago.
But I let him go on, enjoying the torture he must be going through. He deserves to suffer for doing this to me, betraying my trust in the worst way possible.
"Cassidy," he continues eagerly, trying to grab my hand. I move away from his touch, too disgusted to feel his skin against mine, even if it is for the last time ever. "I fucked up. I've just…"
"Just what?" I ask, needing to hear his reasoning behind what's been going on, even if it doesn't change a thing between us.
Adrian raises his gaze to mine, his eyes broken just like his soul. "I've been living in Dom's shadow for four years," he says, his voice heavy with emotions that make me blush. "You never talked about him, never mentioned him. But it's always been him – if you hadn't found out about the bet, you'd still be with him. That's why I told you, because I wanted you for myself."
He tries reaching for me again and I move away once more, so his hand falls away empty. "I tried so fucking hard to be enough for you, Cassidy," he says heavily. "I tried to make you happy, tried to give you everything you wanted."
I look into his eyes and I’m surprised to see them brimming with tears. But what's more surprising is the fact that it doesn't make me feel a thing – not remorse, not glee at his pain. Not a goddamn thing.
"As soon as he came back into your life, I knew I'd never keep you. We could get married, have children, but you'd always want him. He'd always be the one that got away."
His words are true, even if I don't want to admit it.
"That doesn't excuse you sleeping with Brielle," I say, already tired from this conversation.
"No, it doesn't," Adrian agrees. "But I never loved her. Always, since that summer four years ago, you've been the one for me. And I'm sorry, so fucking sorry, Cassidy, that I can't be the same for you."
His voice breaks as he wipes his eyes. His confession may be heartbreaking, but it just makes me feel embarrassed for him, and even more for me. I've been stuck in a loveless relationship for four years.
This man has broken himself, but I had a hand in hurting him, too. I've transformed myself into someone I don't even want to be. I bite my bottom lip, fighting back my own tears.
"I'm sorry, Adrian," I admit with defeat. "I'm sorry I didn't need you the way you needed me."
We're both quiet for a long moment and I take his hand next, opening his palm. I place my engagement ring firmly on it, folding his fingers over it. "Keep it," I tell him forcefully when he tries to stop me. "You'll find a girl who deserves it more than I do."
